Experts in Our Midst

Yet, the expertise and cultural knowledge of diaspora staff is often undervalued and underutilised. The persistence of unconscious bias and systemic racism present obstacles to fully harnessing the unique perspectives and experiences of diaspora staff in global health.

The NHS must center inclusion and race equality in its leadership and decision-making, ensuring the UK’s health system is fit for the future, benefitting fully from the wealth of knowledge and expertise in our diverse healthcare workforce.

In partnership with NHS organisations across England and Wales, the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) has established the Diaspora Network for Global Health. The Network aims to harness the knowledge diaspora staff have of other health systems to develop practical solutions that improve health service delivery in the UK and overseas. Building on the recommendations outlined in THET’s 2021 policy report Experts in Our Midst, the Network strengthens

existing diversity and inclusion strategies within NHS organisations whilst also providing enhanced ESG credentials that help to retain, develop and promote diaspora leadership. The founding NHS organisations leading this Network include Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, East London Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust, West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

Through its partnership with Health Education England (HEE), THET has also been able to award several Diaspora Volunteering Fellowships for Health Partnerships, which have been instrumental in capturing and promoting diaspora expertise and leadership, supporting the links staff working in the UK have with their countries of heritage. These fellowships have enabled diaspora staff to engage in global activities and lead projects in Kenya on nursing leadership and development in surgery and maternity departments, and in the Philippines on strengthening diabetes care and support in isolated and disadvantaged areas of the Visayas Islands.

Storytelling is at the heart of all this work, with a focus on platforming diaspora perspectives from across the NHS, captured in a flagship report that will be published in late 2023.

This work is being led by THET’s Diaspora Engagement Advisor, Kokila Swamynathan MSc ACP, whose secondment is sponsored by Sue Tranka, the Chief Nursing Officer of Wales and is funded by the Welsh Government.